Wednesday, May 11, 2016

I am awake and up before the light takes over the night sky. What time is it? Four thirty? Close to five? I work on a few emails and I watch as the darkness yields to a dense fog outside. Eventually I go outside to let the cheepers out. The fog has crept into the farmette too and the world feels wet and clammy, but not unpleasant.

The farmers' fields to the east and north of us are lost in the thick air and there is a calmness to the landscape that I quite like.

I look at the flower beds -- they're doing well! They loved their day of gentle rain!

What's blooming? Well, I can appreciate the peonies that are close to popping their buds.

But honestly, the lilac continues to take center stage. Here it is again, still sagging, still beautiful.

...equally beautiful when brought into the house. (Breakfast is in the kitchen. The book is a new one that I just acquired for Snowdrop.)

My morning today is, in fact, with Snowdrop and I arrive just when she has finished breakfast. I love to surprise her with fruit toward the end of a meal and I happen to have some strawberries in my bag... Here you go, little one.

After her bath, she is still drying out...

But very very quickly she pushes for an outing. She brings her shoes. She brings my shoes. I work on teaching her the word "later."

She settles in for a period of play in the kitchen, with child-sized kitchen utensils.

They fascinate her no end and she spends a productive half hour putting them into the wire basket and taking them out again.

And throwing them on the floor.Now, what have I done here?

And arranging them on her chair.

I love her creative approach to play! It is like that of an older child, except more secretive, because I cannot really tell what's on her mind -- I can only guess.

And eventually I say -- you're dry! Let's go! Really, grandma? Really?? Here are your shoes again...Actually, those are your daddy's shoes, but thank you anyway!

My daughter, who has been working upstairs, takes a pause and joins us for the walk and this of course delights Snowdrop! So much so that she wants to stand in the stroller, facing us, enjoying the camaraderie. Let's strap you in, little girl.

We go 'round the lesser lake and we stop at the cafe, where Snowdrop shows off to her mom that she knows darn well where the high chair is.

And she knows that we put it back after our turn with it.

Meanwhile, back at the farmette, Ed is spending quality time with the cheepers (who have grown to be quite affectionate with him).